Disposable diaper with permanently attached adhesive belt fastening means

Abstract

A disposable diaper is provided with an adhesive closure means in which an elongated flexible strip extends transversely across the diaper along a marginal portion thereof. The strip has a mid-portion which is permanently attached to the diaper, and a pair of end portions. Each end portion has an inward section which has a release coating on the inside surface, and a free end section which has an adhesive coating on the inside surface. The free end section is adapted for folding over upon the inward section and releasably adhering thereto. In one embodiment, the inward section is positioned along a side margin of the diaper so that each free end section, when ready for use, extends beyond an adjacent edge of the diaper. In another embodiment, the entire length of each end portion extends beyond a side edge of the diaper. In both of these embodiments, an elongated separator means may be attached to the free end section to provide a gripper for peeling the free end away from the inward section for fastening the diaper about a baby.

I claim: 
     
       1. A disposable diaper having an absorbent layer defining a diaper inside surface which is directed toward an infant when worn by that infant, a moisture-impervious backing sheet overlying said absorbent layer and defining a diaper outside surface, and an adhesive tab fastener means which comprises an elongated flexible strip extending transversely across said diaper along a marginal portion of said backing sheet, having a mid-portion thereof permanently attached to said backing sheet and a pair of end portions, each end portion having an inward section, unattached to and within the perimeter of said backing sheet and a free end section; a release coating on said inward section and facing in the same direction as said diaper inside surface; an adhesive coating on each said free end section and facing in the same direction as said release coating when the diaper is ready for use; each said free end section being adapted for folding over upon said inward section and releasably adhering thereto. 
     
     
       2. The diaper as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible strip is adhesively attached to said backing sheet. 
     
     
       3. The diaper as set forth in claim 1, wherein said adhesive coating extends along one surface of each said end portion along the entire length thereof, and wherein said inward section comprises a release strip having one face permanently adhered to said adhesive coating and an opposite face coated with a release coating. 
     
     
       4. The diaper as set forth in claim 1, wherein said adhesive coating extends along one surface of said elongated flexible strip along the entire length thereof, wherein the mid-portion of said elongated flexible strip is attached to the diaper outside surface and said inward section of each said end portion comprises a release strip having one face permanently adhered to said adhesive coating and an opposite face coated with a release coating. 
     
     
       5. The diaper as set forth in claim 1, wherein each said free end section adapted to be folded over is slightly longer than the corresponding inward section of the tab fastener means. 
     
     
       6. The diaper as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible strip has each said inward section positioned along a side margin of the diaper so that each free end section, when ready for use, extends beyond an adjacent side edge of said diaper. 
     
     
       7. The diaper as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible strip is a polyethylene ribbon. 
     
     
       8. The diaper as set forth in claim 1, wherein said adhesive coating on each said free end section extends across the entire free end section except for a segment at the distal end of the free end section which segment provides a lift tab to be gripped when peeling said free end section away from said inward section for fastening said diaper about a baby. 
     
     
       9. The diaper as set forth in claim 1 wherein said elongated flexible strip has each said inward section positioned along a side margin of the diaper and within the peripheral limits of the diaper and wherein each said free end section is folded over the adjacent inward section and is releasably adhered thereto.